I am pleased to announce the hiring of Rachel Willson (pictured fourth from left) who is now serving as office manager and outreach specialist at our Bentleyville district office.

A life-long resident of the Mon Valley, Rachel was most recently employed as the first Thrift Store Manager at the Greater Washington County Food Bank where she successfully raised more than $100,000 in proceeds benefiting the food bank in only six months. In addition, Rachel has extensive professional, administrative, public relations, marketing, sales, social media and management experience.

Rachel’s professional experience and her vast knowledge of our entire region will be a tremendous asset to our team and the citizens of Fayette and Washington counties. The people of the 49th District should know that we are here to do everything we possibly can to meet and exceed your expectations both at home and in Harrisburg. Most importantly, we are here to listen and serve you.

Available services include assisting District 49 residents with PennDOT paperwork, driver’s license and vehicle registration applications and renewals; information and applications for senior citizen benefit programs, including Property Tax/Rent Rebate and PACE/PACENET prescription drug programs; securing birth and death certificates (photo identification required); organizing tours of the State Capitol; copies of legislation and many others.

Applications for the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program are now available at www.RepBudCook.com and at my Bentleyville district office.

The program is designed to help eligible Pennsylvanians age 65 and older; widows and widowers age 50 and older; and people with disabilities age 18 and older to receive up to a $650 rebate from the property taxes or rent they paid in 2018.

To be eligible, homeowners must earn less than $35,000 a year and renters less than $15,000 with half of Social Security income excluded.

Certain supplemental rebates can boost homeowner rebates up to $975. The supplemental rebates are automatically calculated by the Department of Revenue for qualifying homeowners.

Residents should not pay a private entity for assistance in filing the forms. Copies of the forms, as well as assistance with filing them, are available at my office at no cost.

Applicants should be prepared to provide all the necessary income, property tax or rental information required to process claims quickly and accurately. Applications are due by June 30.

Ensuring Victims’ Rights

Legislation to amend the Pennsylvania Constitution to add a victims’ bill of rights was reintroduced this week in a step toward putting the question before voters.

Last session, Marsy’s Law passed in the House and Senate unanimously. An identical bill must be passed this session before the question is placed on the ballot.

While Pennsylvania has protection for victims written into its laws, a constitutional amendment is the only way to ensure that victims have equal footing with offenders and the only way to ensure that victims have some kind of redress when their rights are violated.

The amendment would require notice of hearings and other proceedings, physical and emotional protection from the accused, notice in cases of release or escape, proceedings free from unnecessary delay, the ability to confer with the prosecutor in the case, full and timely restitution from the offender, and notification of all of these rights.